In an emotional homecoming, Sunali Khatun, a 26-year-old woman wrongfully deported to Bangladesh as an illegal immigrant, has returned to her village in Birbhum, West Bengal. The pregnant woman, who was reunited with her family after a six-month ordeal, expressed deep gratitude to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and vowed never to return to Delhi, alleging torture by police there.
A Heartfelt Homecoming and a Promise to the Chief Minister
Hours after being admitted to Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital on Saturday, Sunali Khatun made a touching declaration. "If I have a son, I will name him Deshprem, but it will be an honour if CM Mamata Banerjee chooses a name for my yet-to-be-born child, be it a son or daughter," she said. Her resolve, however, was firm on one point: "I will never go to Delhi again."
Brought back from Bangladesh with her eight-year-old son on Friday evening, Sunali spent the night at Malda Medical College before proceeding to her home in Paikar, Birbhum. Her arrival was met with an overwhelming reception. A crowd of women showered petals on the ambulance, preventing her from stepping out. Inside, a tearful reunion awaited with her six-year-old daughter, Anisha, from whom she had been separated for half a year.
Allegations Against Delhi Police and Praise for Bengal's Leaders
Recounting her traumatic experience, Sunali drew a sharp contrast between the treatment she received in Bangladesh and in Delhi. "Even the police in Bangladesh were good. They gave me whatever I needed. But Delhi police tortured me. They refused to hear my pleas that I am an Indian," she told journalists. Her eyes welled up upon seeing the Indian Tricolour in the crowd, stating her relief at being back in her own country.
Surrounded by cameras and chants for justice, Sunali remained composed. She credited her return to the intervention of West Bengal's political leadership. "I am thankful to Mamata didi, Abhishek da, and Samirul bhai. Without them, I would never have seen today," she emphasized, referring to CM Mamata Banerjee, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, and TMC MP Samirul Islam.
State Steps In: Medical Care and Social Security
The West Bengal government has announced comprehensive support for Sunali Khatun. Samirul Islam, who is also the chairperson of the Bengal Migrant Welfare Board, confirmed that the state would bear all her medical costs as per Supreme Court directives. A police convoy and a state medical team escorted her to Rampurhat Medical College Hospital for check-ups.
Islam further stated that Sunali would be provided with all benefits under the state's social schemes to ensure she does not have to seek work outside Bengal. "This has been a long fight. We hope her husband and Sweety Bibi and her two children are also released soon," he added, highlighting the ongoing plight of her family members still stranded in Bangladesh.
Sunali, her husband Danish, and Sweety Bibi were working as ragpickers in Delhi when they were detained by police on June 17 on suspicion of being illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. They were pushed into Bangladesh within ten days, triggering a legal battle for their return.
A Father's Relief and Lingering Anxieties
The emotional toll on the family was palpable. Sunali's father, Bhodu Sk, who drives a rickshaw, had an emotional reunion with his daughter at Malda Medical College. "I had my child and my grandson in my arms. My tears just didn't stop. I couldn't speak," the relieved father recounted.
While grateful, Bhodu echoed the family's ongoing worry and a fundamental question born of their ordeal. "When will they be released? I was born in Birbhum, so were my children, even my son-in-law. Then why call us Bangladeshi?" he asked, pointing to his son-in-law and others still awaiting repatriation.
As Sunali settles back, her immediate future involves medical care and awaiting the birth of her child. Her story has become a focal point for discussions on migrant rights, police procedure, and state intervention, with the hope that her remaining family will soon share in her hard-won homecoming.
